"Only the strong survive," his father would often say, his voice devoid of warmth. "And the only thing that weakens a man is a woman."
It became a mantra that Nathan absorbed without question. Over time, he hardened his heart, suppressing his feelings and viewing women not as individuals but as trophies—ornaments to enhance his life, objects to make it more enjoyable. This belief became a cornerstone of his identity, shielding him from emotional vulnerability.
It might have stayed that way if he hadn't met Ayaka, Akane, and their mother.
Their mother was unlike anyone Nathan had known. She was a kind, compassionate woman whose warmth seemed to seep into even the coldest corners of his heart. For a time, she brought a flicker of light into his otherwise dark and rigid world.
But that light was fleeting.
